Adjustable wrench



' G. E. CASSEL.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1920.

1 89,487. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

GUNNAR ELIAS CASSEL, OF STOGKHOLM', SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR LEFFLER,

' OF DJ'UBSHOLM, SWEDEN. 1

ADJUSTABLE WRENCI-I.

Application filed July 27,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUNNAR ELIAs Gasser, a citizen of the Kingdom of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to adjustable wrenches of the type in which one jaw movable on a prismatic guide is secured to the main body of the wrench by frictional engagement. I

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind afl'ording complete security against sliding motion of the movable jaw independently of the pressure exerted and without necessitating any appreciable relative movement of the members for securing the movable jaw, it being possible to release said movable jaw, for adjusting the same in relation to the other stationary jaw, with a slight development of power.

To this end the invention consists, chiefly, in that the movable jaw is adapted to be secured to said prismatic guide by means of a clamping wedge so arranged as to beselflocking by a pressure actuating the movable jaw and tending to increase the distance between the stationary jaw and the movable one, the said wedge being self-releasing or adapted to be released by a slight power, when the pressure acts in opposite direction or if a pressure be applied directly to the wedge in the direction away from its edge.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side View partly in sectlon of an adjustable wrench constructed according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line A-B in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a deta1l view of the releasing mechanism.

The wrench shown in the drawing is of the type the main body of which consists of a shank 1 whose one end is enlarged so as to form a head 2 carrying the stationary jaw 3 and provided with a prismatic guide 13 disposed obliquely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the shank and on which the other jaw 4 is movable lengthwise. To secure the movable jaw to the said prismatic guide in adjusted position a clamping wedge (3 is located in a recess 5 made in the head 2 below the jaw 4, the wedge being provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 1920. Serial No 399,247.

on the side facing the jaw 4 with a wedgeformed rib 7 engaging a corresponding wedge-formed notch 8 in the lower side of the jaw a. On the opposite side the wedge has a plane surface 9 divided into two steps and engaging a corresponding plane sur face 10 of a member 11 secured to the bottom of recess 5. The step formed surface 9 of the wedge facilitates the arrangement of a spring 14 placed between the wedge and the member 11 and tending to keep the wedge in constant contact with the lower side of the jaw 41: and the surface 10 of the member 11. Secured to the outer reduced end of the wedge 6 is a small push-plate 12 by means of which the wedge may be moved inwardly and thus be released, the jaw 4 thereby being capable of being adjusted to the desired position in relation to the stationary jaw. The plate 12 being released, the spring returns the wedge into engagement withthe wedge formed notch of the jaw d and the surface 10. The angle of the wedge is so adjusted that the pressure of the spring can keep the jaw in the adjusted position without necessitating any great power for the release of the jaw. When, in using the wrench, the jaw 4 is exposed to a pressure tending to increase the distance be tween the jaws, the frictional engagement of the aw 4 with the wedge 6' will be the more powerful, the greater is the pressure, and consequently any movement of the jaw 4 by such a pressure is made impossible.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An adjustable wrench comprising in combination a shank, a rigid jaw integral with said shank, said rigid jaw being formed with an oblique guideway, a movable jaw having a wedge-shaped recess and mounted to slide in said oblique guideway, a member rigidly attached to the rigid jaw and having a step formed surface inclined relatively to the direction of said guide-way, a movable wedge having a step formed contact surface bearing against said first-mentioned step formed surface, said wedge further on gagin the wedge-shaped recess.

2. in adjustable wrench comprising in combination a shank, a rigid jaw integral with said shank and formed with an oblique guide-Way, a movable jaw having a Wedgeshaped recess and mounted to slide in said oblique guide-way, a member rigidly at teched to the rigid jaw and having a step formed surface inclined relatively to the direction of said guide-Way, a spring-operated movable Wedge having a step formed contact surface bearing against said first mentioned step formed surface, said Wedge further engaging the wedge-shaped recess.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name.

GUNNAR ELIAS OASSEL. 

